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J. S. WATERMAN.

Corpse Cooler.

No. 64.172. Patented April 23, 1867.

N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHF.R, WASHINGTON, n c.

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IMPROVED GORP-SEz-PBESERVING EASE.

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lO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. -WATERMAN, of Roxbury, in the county of Norfolk, and State of Massachu setts, have invented certain improvements in Corpse-Preserving Cases, of which the following is a full, clear, and ex act description, reference being bad tothe accompanying'drawings, making part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective viewcf m'yimproyed corpse-preserving case.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the centre of the same, the top of the ice-chamber being expanded to receive ice in cakes of considerable size.

- Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section through my improved case, the top of the ice-chamber being contracted to conform to the ice as it becomes reduced in bulk by melting.

In the preservation ofa corpse before interment, is found very desirable to cool it rapidly, and maintain the air around it at a constant and uniform low temperature. In the corpse-preserving case of the ordinary construction, where the ice-chamber is above and entirely separated from the corpse-chamber, there is not sufficient space to allow of the reception of large cakes .of ice and it becomes necessary therefore to break it, is inconvenient to the undertaker, andis also objectionable on account of the noise occasioned, and the liability of wetting the furniture in the apartment where the corpse is placed. And if the ice-chamber were made sufiiciently high to receive large cakes of ice, the case would be unwieldy and difiicult to transport, and as the ice melteda portion of the cold air would occupy the space above it, instead of the whole of the cold air being concentratcdin the corpse-chamber and utilized in cooling the body. 7

My invention consists in providing the ice-chamber with a yielding or sliding top' or cover, which may rise or fall, so as to increase or diminish the capacity of the cold-air chamber to conform to the varying size of the ice within it; and my invention also consists in forming a passage from the. corpse chamber to an ice-chamber placed above it.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my ihvention, I will proceed to describe themanner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, the corpse-preserving case is composed of three removable sections ab c, which snugly fit each other, and, when in ,place, form two chambers, A B, the former, A, for the reception of the corpse, and the latter for the reception of the ice. The upper section, a, is provided with a lid or cover, 01, which is connectedwith the sides of the section a by means of a sheet, e, of rubber or other flexible material, in order that the capacity of the ice-chamber may be increased ordiminished to conformto the size of the ice within it.. This flexible sheet e is securely fastened to the lid d and sides of the section a by tacks f, or in any other wellknown manner which will insure the chamber B being made air-tight. g is a pane of glass set in an aperture in the upper section a of the case, through which the corpse may be viewed, and a door, it, is hinged to the to of the section a, for closing over the glass in the aperture when required. Blocks of ice, 0, of considerable size, are placed upon the floor i of the middle section b, and serve to support the lid d, (as'seen in fig. 2.) Across the section b are placed the partitions is Z, which form the ends of the ice receptacle, spaces, at n, being left open to allow of the direct communication of the cold air with the corpse-chamber A. O is a block placed under the lower end of the front of the section 0, for the purpose of giving an inclination to the floor 2' of the ice receptacle, to conduct the water from the iceas it melts, to a tube, 9, which may be provided with a cock, (not shown in the drawings) which is opened when the water is required to be drawn ofi'. The bottom of the lid d may be provided with pins to bear upon the ice, and prevent any liability of the lid inclining to one side. I am aware thatjan ice-chamber has been placed on each side of the corpse-chamber, but I find that the corpse does not become cooled so quickly as by my improved construction, and as it is the tendency of cold air to descend, I prefer to make the ice-chamber above the corpse-chamber, and provide suitable passages whereby the cold air may be conducted downward to the corpse. The case is made in sections for convenience in transporting, and for facility in placing and removing the body. A sliding metal or wooden cover may be used instead of one provided with a sheet of rubber or other flexible material, care being taken to make the connection of'the lid and section a air-tight, but I prefer to use the latter, as thereby the cold air is generated more rapidlv.

O'Zaz'm.

What I claim as my lflVenLlUI], and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Providing the ice-chamber B with a yielding top or cover, for the purpose set forth. I also claim forming a passage from the corpse-chamber to an ice-chamber placed above it, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

JOSEPH S. WATERMAN.

Witnesses:

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